Scot Shields

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Scot Shields
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim — No. 62
Setup pitcher
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
May 26, 2001 for the Anaheim Angels
Selected MLB statistics
(through October 1, 2006)
Holds     87
ERA     2.81
WHIP     1.17
Strikeouts     439

Robert Scot Shields (b. July 22, 1975, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida) is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He has spent his entire career with the Halos, serving as their setup man since 2005.

Contents

[edit] Minor League Career

He graduated from Fort Lauderdale High School and attended Lincoln Memorial University while majoring in Health. He was drafted by the then-Anaheim Angels in the 38th round (1137th overall) of the 1997 draft.

He began his career as a reliever in 1997 with the single-A Boise, earning a 7-2 record with two saves and a 2.94 ERA. The next year he moved to single-A Cedar Rapids, compiling a 6-5 record, seven saves and a 3.65 ERA. In 1999, he split his time as a starter and a reliever at high-A Lake Elsinore, gaining a 10-3 record with a 2.52 ERA and one save. In nine starts, he pitched two complete games and one shutout. For his efforts that year he was named Angels Minor League Pitcher of the Year. He was promoted to triple-A Edmonton in 2000 where he struggled with a 7-13 record and a 5.41 ERA.

[edit] Major League Career

Though he started the 2001 season with the triple-A Salt Lake Bees, Shields was called up to the major Leagues on May 25, making his debut against Tampa Bay on May 26, pitching one-plus innings and allowing one hit and one walk. He was optioned back to Salt Lake, but was recalled on June 27. In eight relief appearances with the Angels, Shields allowed eight hits and seven walks before being optioned back to Salt Lake, where he stayed for the remainder of the season.

Though he began 2002 with the Bees, Shields was recalled to the major leagues on June 14, this time for good. In his final 38 relief appearances, he allowed only seven earned runs, only allowing oppenents a .176 average, the best in the league. He also started for the club on September 27 against the Seattle Mariners, receiving a no-decision and allowing four hits and two earned runs while striking out two.

Shields has been a fixture in the Angels bullpen since that 2002 campaign. He was a member of the 2002 World Series Champion team, but did not fare well in the postseason--he allowed 2 home runs in 1 2/3 innings in Game 5 of the Series, his only appearance in the playoffs that year.

Shields began 2003, his first full year in the bigs, in the bullpen. He posted a 1.68 ERA, working at least three innings twelve times. He led the American League with 69.2 innings of relief before moving into the Angels' starting rotation on April 26 versus the Boston Red Sox. As a starter, Shields was 4-6 with a 3.89 ERA, pitching at least seven innings in six of his thirteen starts. He ended the season with a 5-6 record and a 2.85 ERA.

For the 2004 campaign, Shields returned to the Angels bullpen. He pitched 22 consecutive shutout innings from May 9 to June 11, and worked three scoreless innings five times during the season. With fellow reliever Frankie Rodríguez, he was part of the first pair of relievers to post 100 strikeouts in one season since 1997, and was third in the American League in strikeouts with 109. In the post-season that year, he struggled in two appearances during the ALDS, pitching three innings and allowing two earned runs with a 6.00 ERA.

When Francisco Rodríguez replaced veteran Troy Percival as the Angels' closer in 2005, Shields emerged as the club's trusted setup man, pitching the eighth inning as the bridge to Frankie. In this capacity, he led the American League with 91.2 innings of relief pitching, and ranked second with 98 strikeouts and 32 holds. When Frankie was placed on the disabled list from May 15 to May 31, Shields stood in as the club's closer, earning five saves in six save opportunities. Overall, Shields posted a 10-11 record with a 2.75 ERA.

Shields finished the 2006 season with a 7-7 record, an ERA of 2.87 and 84 strikeouts. He led the league in holds with 31, and was second among American League relief pitchers in innings pitched with 87.2 innings.

[edit] Pitches and Abilities

Shields is currently the setup man for the Angels, holding the lead if necessary in the 7th and 8th innings until the Angels go to closer Francisco Rodríguez.

He is highly prized not only for the quality of his performance, but for his versatility. In his career with the Angels, he has served as a starter, long reliever, middle reliever, setup man, and closer, depending on the needs of the team at the time. Shields is known to have a "rubber arm," meaning he has excellent endurance and does not need to ice his arm after pitching. During college, he once pitched a game of 16 innings, throwing 261 pitches. He throws a hard, sinking fastball that clocks anywhere between 92-95 MPH, and a slurve.

[edit] Trivia

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Coaching Staff Manager: Mike Scioscia • Bench: Ron Roenicke • Pitching: Mike Butcher • Hitting: Mickey Hatcher • Bullpen: Orlando Mercado • First Base: Alfredo Griffin • Third Base: Dino Ebel
Rotation John Lackey • Ervin Santana • Joe Saunders • Kelvim Escobar • Jered Weaver
Bullpen Héctor Carrasco • Greg Jones • Darren Oliver • Francisco Rodríguez • Scot Shields • Justin Speier
Catchers Jeff Mathis • José Molina • Mike Napoli
Infielders Orlando Cabrera • Chone Figgins • Shea Hillenbrand • Maicer Izturis • Howie Kendrick • Casey Kotchman
Outfielders Robb Quinlan • Garret Anderson • Tommy Murphy • Vladimir Guerrero • Gary Matthews, Jr. • Reggie Willits
Disabled List: Bartolo Colón • Juan Rivera

[edit] External links

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